Vietnam’s aircraft ready to fly again

Vietnamese air carriers’ fleets are ready for the resumption of air travel, scheduled for early this month by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

All aircraft of Vietnam Airlines will be checked and undergo maintenance before returning to operation. Photos: Vietnam Airlines

In the latest move, the CAAV is consulting the people's committees of provinces and cities on a draft plan for the reopening of air travel in phase one from October 5. 

According to the draft plan, domestic airlines will operate 91 return flights per day between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Kien Giang (Phu Quoc, Rach Gia), Nghe An and Quang Binh, Ba Ria - Vung Tau (Con Dao), Quang Nam, Cantho, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Gia Lai, Thua Thien Hue, Lam Dong, Dien Bien, Danang, Khanh Hoa, and Dak Lak.

Among them, the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route will be operated with 28 return flights each day. 

The routes will be conducted by the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and budget carriers Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Pacific Airlines.

In a dispatch to the Hanoi People's Committee on October 2, the CAAV underlined Noi Bai International Airport as a key traffic hub in the domestic and international flight network, supporting domestic flights to reactivate air travel.

"The CAAV will roll out stricter prevention measures for the air service based on Hanoi authorities' feedback to the draft plan," the dispatch noted.

Being one of the local transport units eager to resume domestic air travel, Vietnam Airlines is ready to fly again. With the principle of “Safety comes first”, all aircraft of the national air carrier will be checked and undergo maintenance before returning to operation.

The inspection and maintenance of aircraft engines are one of the top priorities. During the time on the ground due to the impact of the pandemic, the aircraft engines were all covered with canvas to prevent strange objects from intruding the engines.

In addition to technical preparations to ensure flight safety, the national air carrier will keep strictly applying disease prevention measures when resuming operations, such as regularly disinfecting aircraft and ground equipment as well as serving antibacterial towels on the flight. All frontline workers including pilots, flight attendants, and ground staff have been vaccinated.

The cover is removed when the aircraft is prepared to fly again. The engines will have to undergo a number of checks, maintenance and tests to ensure flight safety.

A technician is assembling an engine. Aircraft engines are huge, so when being moved to somewhere else for overhaul, they have to be broken down into different parts and reassembled into a complete block.

Once resuming, the national air carrier will regularly disinfect aircraft and ground equipment as well as serve antibacterial towels on the flight.